(Credit: Houston Symphony official website)

Conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen has tested positive for COVID-19.

The Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra has officially announced that Salonen contracted the virus and will be quarantining per the official rules. The conductor took to Twitter, saying that he feels a bit grumpy, but also happy that the scheduled concerts will take place with a replacement.

Accordingly, Jukka-Pekka Saraste will conduct tenor Russell Thomas, mezzo-soprano Jeni Packalen, baritone Tommi Hakala, tenor Jussi Myllys, and bass Timo Riihonen in concert performances of Stravinsky’s “Oedipus Rex” on Dec. 15 & 16, 2021.

Salonen is scheduled to appear in a series of concerts at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, conducting Golda Schultz and Marianne Crebassa for presentations of Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony in July 2022.

OperaWire sends its best to Maestro Salonen in these difficult times.